A Culture Vanished

The city streets abandoned lie, 

Their stony paths untrod;

The houses sit forgotten by

As vultures wheel above.

Forsaken is this ancient town

That once was filled with life;

Where merchants had traversed abroad, 

Where shone the summer’s light.

But winter came, and warmth did flee 

The homes within this place.

The children singing merrily

Lay buried in the grave.

For rather than prepare for cold

The people still would play,

Stop up their ears from warnings told, 

And waste away their days.

So when at last the snow did fall

And blizzards howling came,

The townsmen did forsake their halls

 To flee the storms in vain.

Alas! they swiftly met their end

‘Ere warmer climes they found:

In hunger’s pangs they named the dead 

Laid in the rocky ground.

Their city now is wolves’ abode,

The haven of the stork.

The people heeded not sound word, 

But did refuse to work.

Thus, generations ended swift, 

An ancient line did die;

For rather than perfect their gift 

They fallow let it lie.